Constitution and By-laws of IAGP
As Amended in March 2003
Article I - Name
The name of the organization is the International Association of Group Psychotherapy
IAGP and is a registered association in Kreuzlingen, Kanton Thurgau, Switzerland
according to Article 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Law.
Article II – Purpose
The purpose of the association is to serve the development of group Psychotherapy as a
field of practice, training and scientific study. The Association realizes its purpose
without any financial interest according to the needs and benefit of all persons applying
or receiving group psychotherapy. In the case of liquidation of the IAGP, the remaining
assets will be transferred to a tax-exempt charitable organization dedicated to similar
goals.
Article III – Membership
A. Individual membership is available to professionals active in practice, teaching or
research in group psychotherapy whose applications have been approved by the
Membership Committee. Student membership is available to individuals enrolled
in qualified group psychotherapy training programs.
B. Organizational Affiliation is available to associations active in group
psychotherapy which have been established on a national, regional, common
language or special interest basis, subject to the review of the applications by the
Organizational Affiliate Committee and acceptance by the vote of the Executive
Committee.
C. Membership in the organization is not to be considered as a credential, and
membership can not be presented as evidence of competence.
D The title of Distinguished Fellow shall be bestowed upon those very few members
who have offered outstanding service to IAGP and meritorious contributions to
the field of group therapy.
Article IV – Dues
The Board of Directors determines the dues of Membership and Organizational
Affiliation. Dues are paid once for the interval between Congresses and may be paid in
advance to the time of the next International Congress. Individual Membership or
Organizational Affiliation is terminated for dues delinquency of one year and with notice
to the Individual Member or Organizational Affiliate of the pending termination.
Article V – Officers
The officers shall be the President, President Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary
and Treasurer. The members of the Executive Board are non-salaried volunteers elected
by the membership for a three-year term. They may claim expenses pre-approved by the
board related to their official role and functions on behalf of IAGP.
Officers shall be elected by the membership by mail ballot, with the exception of the
Immediate past President and they shall each serve for a three-year term. The Secretary
and Treasurer may not serve more than two successive terms of office, after which one
term of office must elapse before that Officer is eligible for nomination to the same
office. Officers shall be nominated from the ranks of present and former Boards of
Directors. Vacancies occurring will be filled by election by the Board of Directors to
complete the balance of any unexpired term of office. The Office of Secretary and
Treasurer may be occupied simultaneously by one person.
A. President
The President shall be the Executive Officer of the Association and shall chair the
Board of Directors.
B. President-Elect.
In the event of the disability of the President, the President-Elect shall become
President upon the call of the Board of Directors.
C. Secretary
The Secretary shall maintain the records of the Association and shall perform
such other duties as assigned by the Board of Directors.
D. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have custody of all the funds of the Association and will
maintain records as required by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall
deposit Association funds in such banks as chosen by the Board of Directors. By
resolution, the Board shall determine additional signatories and other conditions
on disbursements of Association monies. The Treasurer shall maintain full and
adequate records of all Transactions with records available for inspection by
officers, directors and other inspectors and auditors as required by the law. The
Treasurer may be required to give bond for faithful discharge of duties in such
amount and with such securities as the Board of Directors may require and
present, as specified in Article VII, at the General Assembly a report approved by
two auditors.
E. Restrictions
The President and the President-Elect shall be residents of two different countries.
The President is limited to one term of office and is not eligible for immediate reelection to a succeeding term as President. One term must elapse before he/she is
again eligible for nomination for President.
Article VI – Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for the affairs of the Association. The Board shall
consist of not more than thirty non-salaried members elected by the membership. They
may claim expenses pre-approved by the board related to their official role and functions
on behalf of IAGP.
Each term of office shall be for three years with maximum uninterrupted tenure in office
of three terms in succession. After maximum tenure, a Board member will not be eligible
for re-election to the Board until one term of three years has elapsed. Serving as a Board
member does not count as Officer time in office. Serving as an Officer does not count as
Board time in office. Meetings of the Board of Directors will be held at the time of the
International Congresses and at such other times as chosen by the Board. A quorum shall
consist of not less than 25% of the members of the Board of Directors.
During his/her three-year tenure, a director will be committed to attend, at minimum, one
Congress and two Board meetings. Failure to do so, barring exceptional circumstances,
will end his/her term in office. The actions of the Board shall be reported at each general
assembly of the membership and annually by mail to each individual member and to each
organizational member. Notice of the meeting of the Board of Directors must be given at
least sixty days in advance of the meeting. In connection with International Congresses,
the Board may designate such honorary officers as it deems appropriate. In addition to
the periodic International Congresses, the Board may provide for special or regional
meetings and may cooperate with other institutions or organizations for formation of
meetings of interest to the membership.
Article VII – Meetings
The membership general assembly shall meet in conjunction with the International
Congresses sponsored by the Association and at any specific meeting called by the Board
of Directors. At the general assembly, there shall be a report from the President, Board of
Directors, the Treasurer, two auditors and committees. The general assembly may vote to
implement changes and to ratify actions of the Board of Directors. A quorum for the
conduct of business of a membership meeting shall require the presence of at least 10%
of the individual and/or organizational members with the privilege of vote. No individual
or organization may cast more than one vote. Notice of the meetings of the general
assembly are to be given to voting members not less than sixty days prior to the meeting
date. International Congresses shall be scheduled at three-year intervals if possible.
Article VIII – Voting
In general assembly meetings the privilege of vote shall be accorded to each individual
member whose dues are currently paid and to the official representative of an affiliated
organization whose organization membership dues are currently paid. In any instance
where the Board of Directors chooses to defer to mail ballot, the same privilege shall
apply. A simple majority vote is sufficient for the passage of an issue.
The officially designated representative of an affiliated organization may attend meetings
of the Board of Directors but is not accorded the privilege of vote in such meetings.
Article IX – Committees
The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, unless otherwise specified
herein, appoints committees and chairpersons. If vacancies occur between meetings of
the Board, they will be filled by appointment by the President in consultation with the
Executive Committee, informing the Board of Directors within sixty days.
A. Executive Committee.
This committee consists of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past
President, Secretary and Treasurer. The committee is responsible for
conducting the affairs of the Association between meetings of the Board of
Directors.
B. The Nominating Committee
Shall consist of a Chairperson and four members of the Board. They will
prepare a slate for Officers and Directors for review and approval by the
Board by majority vote. The list of candidates will be presented by mail to all
paid-up members of the organization at least 60 days prior to the election. The
Nominating Committee will, to the extent possible, seek out a wide array of
nominations representative of countries, regions, cultures and specialties in a
balanced manner.
C. Congress Organizing Committee.
This committee shall consist of the Executive Committee and five or more
members from the country where the next congress is to be held and any
member designated to serve as the presiding official at the next congress. The
Congress Committee will, if necessary, specify the title of the presiding
official and provide such person with sufficient authority to convene the
congress as may be required by national laws. The members form the country
of the next congress, assisted by others, will constitute a local arrangements
subcommittee to assist with planning the details of the congress.
D. Membership Committee
The committee shall consist of a chairperson, appointed by the President, and
approved by the Executive and Board Members. Committee members are
selected from Sections, organizational affiliates and the individual
membership, the number to be at the discretion of the chair and to be
representative of the major geographical regions. The committee shall review
both individual and organizational membership applications and submit them
to the Board of Directors for approval.
E. Scientific Congress Program Committee.
The committee, appointed by the President in consultation with the Congress
Arrangements Committee, shall be responsible for planning the content of the
next congress, including the scheduling of calls to program participants,
special presenters, papers, workshops, panels, plenary sessions, membership
meetings, director meetings and special events. They will work closely with
the local arrangements subcommittee to coordinate the scheduling of
activities.
F. Consultative Assembly of Organizational Affiliates.
This consultative Assembly of Organizational Affiliates will consist of all
Presidents or other official representatives of the said and duly paid-up
Affiliate Organizations and will convene at each Congress, or more frequently
if desired, to provide advisory regional representation in regard to policy and
development. It will select a Chairperson and be co-chaired by the President
of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy.
G. Site Selection Committee
Must be appointed by the President-Elect with the consent of the President.
The President-Elect is the Chairman of the Committee.
H. Ad Hoc Committee
Can be appointed for certain purposes by the President with the approval of
the Executive Committee, informing the Board of Directors within sixty days.
I. Governance and By-laws Committee.
The committee will be charged with the study and review of all matters
related to the structure of the organization embodied in the Constitution and
By-laws. The Chairperson or a member of the committee may act as
Parliamentarian to supervise rules of order of discussion and voting at Board
meetings upon the call of the President or presiding member.
Article X – Sections
The Board may, at its discretion, establish temporary or continuing Sections based on
specialized interest. Action to create a Section may be initiated by an application to the
Board of twenty-five (25) paid-up members who subscribe to the following principles
and conditions:
(a) Full conformity with the IAGP Constitution and By-laws. Sections must adopt an
identical set of Operating Regulations and elect a Coordinating Committee. The
Chairperson will serve as an ex-officio member of the Board Officers and Board
members of the IGAP may not concurrently serve on a Section Coordinating
Committee.
(b) Each Section will be open to all paid-up individual IAGP members without
imposition of special requirements or training qualifications. There will be only
one class of membership. Affiliated organizations cannot be considered members
of a Section.
(c) The Section Coordinating Committees will submit to the IAGP Board an annual
report of membership, budget and activities. Sections will utilize the IAGP
FORUM for publication and not establish a separate publication without Board
approval.
The Section Chairperson shall be accorded voting privileges on the Board of
Directors.
Article XI – Amendment
The constitution and by-laws may be amended at any general assembly meeting of the
organization provided that the proper notice of the meeting and proposed amendments
has been considered under the requirements in Articles VII and VIII.